Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids
Encyclopedia
The Plan for the Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids (SCATANA) is an emergency preparedness plan of the United States
which prescribes the joint action to be taken by appropriate elements of the Department of Defense
, Federal Aviation Administration
, and the Federal Communications Commission
in the interest of national security in order to effectively control air traffic and air navigation aids under emergency conditions. Known versions of the plan are dated June 1971 and August 1975. The plan implements parts of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958
, the Communications Act of 1934
, and Executive Order 11490 of October 28, 1969 (amended by Executive Order 11921
on June 11, 1976).
A similar plan by the same name existed in Canada
for many years before its replacement with that country's Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) Plan on October 9, 2002.
condition throughout U.S. airspace and ordering all U.S. air traffic to be grounded, after the September 11 attacks. Even in that instance, the emergency plan was only partially implemented as the Defense Department left command of the air traffic system with the FAA and intentionally left all the radio navigational aids
still running, in order to land the thousands of planes which were aloft in domestic airspace.
The 9/11 Commission Report
made reference to this unprecedented order and commended the air traffic controllers who carried it out.
Several people have been credited with issuing the SCATANA order for a national ground stop. The 9/11 commission credits Ben Sliney
with issuing the directive after he witnessed United Airlines Flight 175
crash into the south tower of the World Trade Center
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which prescribes the joint action to be taken by appropriate elements of the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, and the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
in the interest of national security in order to effectively control air traffic and air navigation aids under emergency conditions. Known versions of the plan are dated June 1971 and August 1975. The plan implements parts of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958
Federal Aviation Act of 1958
The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 was an act of the United States Congress, , that created the Federal Aviation Agency and abolished its predecessor, the Civil Aeronautics Administration...
, the Communications Act of 1934
Communications Act of 1934
The Communications Act of 1934 is a United States federal law, enacted as Public Law Number 416, Act of June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, by the 73rd Congress, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, codified as Chapter 5 of Title 47 of the United States Code, et seq. The Act replaced the...
, and Executive Order 11490 of October 28, 1969 (amended by Executive Order 11921
Executive Order 11921
Executive Order 11921 was an executive order approved by President of the United States Gerald Ford on June 11, 1976. It amends Executive Order 11490 of October 28, 1969, which calls for federal agencies to prepare plans for a state of emergency that would require "over-all civilian manpower...
on June 11, 1976).
A similar plan by the same name existed in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for many years before its replacement with that country's Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) Plan on October 9, 2002.
Use on September 11, 2001
The U.S. plan has been implemented once (other than tests) since its inception. On September 11, 2001 the codeword was broadcasted, implementing an ATC ZeroATC Zero
ATC Zero is an aviation term used when local airspace is closed. All aircraft going to any destination inside of the airspace must re-route, and any aircraft already in the airspace must either land or fly outside of the affected airspace.ATC Zero gained widespread notability in the aftermath of...
condition throughout U.S. airspace and ordering all U.S. air traffic to be grounded, after the September 11 attacks. Even in that instance, the emergency plan was only partially implemented as the Defense Department left command of the air traffic system with the FAA and intentionally left all the radio navigational aids
Radio navigation
Radio navigation or radionavigation is the application of radio frequencies to determine a position on the Earth. Like radiolocation, it is a type of radiodetermination.The basic principles are measurements from/to electric beacons, especially...
still running, in order to land the thousands of planes which were aloft in domestic airspace.
The 9/11 Commission Report
9/11 Commission Report
The 9/11 Commission Report, formally named Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, is the official report of the events leading up to the September 11, 2001 attacks...
made reference to this unprecedented order and commended the air traffic controllers who carried it out.
Several people have been credited with issuing the SCATANA order for a national ground stop. The 9/11 commission credits Ben Sliney
Ben Sliney
Ben Sliney was one of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's National Operation Managers. His first day in this position was September 11, 2001, and he was responsible for ordering a National Ground Stop across United States airspace in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.- Actions on...
with issuing the directive after he witnessed United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175 was United Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
crash into the south tower of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
.